Project Proponent Water Corporation Proposal description The Water Corporation submitted a proposal 'Burrup Peninsula Desalinated Water and Seawater Supplies Project' in May 2001 (Water Corporation, 2001a) to service the requirements of new industrial developments on the Burrup Peninsula. The proposed scheme was designed to supply seawater and desalinated water to the Syntroleum Sweetwater Corporation (Syntroleum) gas to liquids plant, with additional capacity to supply one or possibly two other process plants. The EPA released its report (EPA, 2001) in May 2001 and approval was granted in June 2001 (Ministerial Statement 567) for a 6.5 megalitres per day (ML/d) thermal desalination plant to be located on Syntroleum's lease and for a seawater supply (100 ML/d) and brine discharge (77 ML/d) system. Inquiry under s46 into a request to upgrade the original proposal to include the provision of water supply to other industrial process plants proposed for the Burrup Peninsula. The proponent estimates the total seawater demand and brine discharge of these plants to be 280 ML/d and 208 ML/d respectively. The proposal also allows for the disposal of industrial wastewater with the brine discharge. Assessment Number 1419 Region Pilbara Referred under EP Act s46 Industry sector Infrastructure Last updated August 25, 2025 Current Status Ministerial Statement published 2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal Chair's Determination s46 request for a change to environmental conditions (not subject to appeal): Public Notification Extract of determination Chair Determination - Upgrade of Multi-user seawater supply system and introduction of wastewater to ocean outfall Burrup Peninsula.pdf (PDF, 339.09 KB) Preliminary Environmental Factors Marine Environmental Quality Flora and Vegetation Terrestrial Fauna Date published Monday, February 4, 2002 - 12:00 4. EPA Report on assessment EPA Report Number 1044 EPA Report EPA Report 1044 (PDF, 749.61 KB) Key Environmental Factors Marine Environmental Quality Flora and Vegetation Terrestrial Fauna Date published Monday, March 25, 2002 - 12:00 Appeals close Monday, April 8, 2002 - 12:00 5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal Ministerial Statement Date of approval Wednesday, June 5, 2002 - 12:00 Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement 594.pdf (PDF, 2.62 MB) Post-assessment changes s. 45C amendments Attachment 1 to Statement 594 - Construct and operate alternative seawater intake pump system - change to proposal approved on 5 March 2010. Attachment 2 to Statement 594 - Construct and operate a six gigalitre per annum reverse osmosis desalination plant to supply industry and domestic customers. - change to proposal approved on 6 August 2010. Attachment 3 to Statement 594 – Define the development envelope using spatial coordinates (Replace Figure 2 of MS 594 with defined development envelope in schedule 3 (new)). Increase development envelope by 1.44 ha, from 17.96 to 19.40 ha. Increase in clearing by 0.26 ha, from 6.36 to 6.62 ha. Delete in Table 2 the element Operational Noise, and description: Seawater intake system: “less than 70 dB(A) at 1 metre from pump well”. Change to proposal approved under s45C on 19 April 2024. Attachment 4 to Statement 594 - Replaces Figure 1 of MS 594 Attachment 3 with amended development envelope and disturbance footprint Figure 1 of MS 594 Attachment 4. Increase development envelope from 19.40 to 19.63 ha. Increase disturbance footprint from 8.23 to 8.65 ha. Change to proposal approved under s45C on 25 August 2025 Attachments Attachment 4 - Notice and Summary of Reasons.pdf (PDF, 189.65 KB) Attachment 4 - Attachment 1 Development Envelope and Disturbance Footprint.pdf (PDF, 1.7 MB) Date of approval s. 45C Friday, March 5, 2010 - 12:00 Friday, August 6, 2010 - 12:00 Friday, April 19, 2024 - 12:00 Monday, August 25, 2025 - 12:00
